Chapter 22: Bravado
Arachnophobia is gone and I got my weeks rest. There was some bad news in the aftermath, Medusa got away with her sister's body but at least the girl she possessed was freed. Death feels another group was helping Arachnophobia behind the scenes but I've let it lie. I'm going to find out what that's all about now anyway since Death has called for a meeting today. It must be big since the South American Death Scythe is going to show up this time. Still no word on the Eastern Europe, West Asia or African Death Scythes though... Are these meetings actually voluntary and nobody bothered to tell me since I'm a newbie?
Tsugumi emerged from the guillotine path of the Death Room and waved to Spirit as she approached. "Sorry for making you get up so early Tsugumi-chan." Spirit said. He was standing by the mirror, waving at her while his other hand stayed in his pocket. Beside him Death was inside his mirror.
"Its fine," Tsugumi said shrugging. She wouldn't admit to it but she'd woken up early anyway. Spirit's call came after she'd made breakfast for herself and Maka. "I need to pull my weight around here. It seems I've been on and off vacation non-stop."
"It looks like everyone's here!" Death said clapping his hands together. Tsugumi turned to see Stein, BJ and... Was that a man wearing a bear head? "Tsugumi, you remember BJ. And the Mysterious Bear over there is the South American Death Scythe Tezca."
"It's nice to meet you!" Tsugumi said giving a bow to Tezca. She was glad her bangs covered her face as she tried to swallow her giggles. He was wearing a polo shirt under his suit, how casual!
"Nice to meet you to Tsugumi," Tezca said holding out a hand to Tsugumi. She shook his hand, lips still twitching.
"Alright, now that introductions are out of the way there have been... developments everyone must be aware of." Death said. Tsugumi's amusement was blown out the window seeing Death's slumped shoulders. "Justin Law has fallen to the madness."
"You can't be serious!" Tezca said flinging out an arm. "Justin is one of our comrades, how could he fall prey so easily?"
"We believe it was the work of one the clowns created by the insanity wavelength." Death said. Tsugumi looked at her shoes and hugged herself. She had hoped the one they fought was a one off thing.
"I thought of all of us, bar Tsugumi, Justin was supposed to be the most resistant to madness." Spirit said hiding his face in his hand. "How did it come to this?"
"Where did you get that idea?" BI said crossing his arms. "Justin's always been a few bolts short of a coffee machine."
"Justin was always alone..." Tsugumi said. She flinched when everyone turned to look at her. "I mean, he revered Death as a god. But even then he never took out his headphones to listen to him did he? If you don't like what you hear it would be all too easy to switch to a god with a more appealing argument."
"That can't be..." Tezca said his shoulders slumping. "I spent lots of time talking to Justin. I can't believe he would throw away those fun times."
"Tezca if he had his headphones in how would he hear you?" Spirit said pointing to his own ears. "He couldn't lip read through your mask." Tezca fell over in shock. Tsugumi felt badly for him, though he was a bit daft. Finding out someone you cared about didn't see you the same way had to hurt.
"I suppose this means I was wrong..." Stein said stuffing his hands in his pocket. "I let my own opinion of god blind me to the DWMA's policy on religion."
"Now Stein it's not your fault." Death said holding up a hand. "Everyone's different. That policy is more of a general rule, if religion helps you manage the madness that's fine. I originally put it in place because I've always felt uncomfortable being worshiped." Tsugumi could believe that. Death tended to be very casual and got uncomfortable being put on the spot as a leader.
"We're getting off topic." BJ said holding up his hand. "You must have solid evidence to say such things about a Death Scythe."
"My apologies..." Death said and cleared his throat. "Justin hadn't reported back to DWMA in several weeks. We found out he had turned when we investigated a suspicious person at Baba Yaga Castle. Justin was there and helped them flee."
"The man claiming to be Eibon," Stein said pushing up his glasses and Death nodded. "If he's not alone we will need to hunt this new faction down." Tsugumi scrunched her nose up. Eibon's name was popping up everywhere, it seemed.
"How do we know he's not the real Eibon? Maka's researched him before but there was never any description." Tsugumi said. Though if it was Eibon it still gave no insight into what he could want.
"It was not Eibon." Death said standing up straight for the first time. "I would never mistake his wavelength should he leave his hiding spot." Tsugumi crossed her arms and hummed. She would take his word on that, Maka had said they had known each other in the past. But if it wasn't the real Eibon what would he want? "Anyway I just wanted everyone to be aware of the situation. The final details still need to be ironed out."
The meeting had wrapped up quickly after that and Tsugumi had left the Death Room just after the first class began. This morning was a sparring lesson so Tsugumi made her way to the gym's locker room and changed into her gi and protective gear. When she was done Tsugumi made her way into the gym. Everyone had already started sparring under Naigus and Mifune's watchful eyes. Seeing that Black*Star and Maka were busy, Tsugumi walked over to where some of her friends were watching.
"Working hard Tsugumi-chan?" Ao said smiling as Tsugumi approached. Soul Eater was by her side, he was smiling for once.
"More like hardly working. The meeting was just an update on how things are going." Tsugumi said smiling at Ao. "How are things with you guys?" Soul Eater puffed out his chest.
"We got our 99th Kishin soul last night." Soul Eater said grinning, showing both rows of shark teeth. "This time tomorrow I'll be a Death Scythe. I'll blow you out of the water with my power the next time we fight."
"Is that so?" Tsugumi said laughing. She stepped into Soul Eater's personal space and put her hands on her shoulders. "There are some things you need to know beforehand. Being a Death Scythe isn't fun at all you know? You have to be alone with Dr Stein for hours on end..." Ao and Soul Eater flinched. "Spirit and Death can and will call you over the announcement system at any hour, sometimes just to embarrass you! Everyone's going to talk about you behind your back, forget having alone time and give up on your locker space... "
"Tsugumi, you have to check this out!" Jacqueline said. Tsugumi released her grip on Soul Eater and turned to see her pointing at Patty's fight. "This is her fifth opponent yet her movements haven't dulled!" Tsugumi walked over to stand by Jacqueline.
"She's doing pretty well for a weapon..." Tsugumi said. She crossed her arms as she watched Patty fighting Kim. Even though Kim wasn't the most talented martial artist among the girls and EAT, she wasn't a pushover. Yet Patty was countering her every move. Tsugumi doubted she could move half as well. Patty ended the spar by throwing Kim over her shoulder and out of the ring. On the sidelines Liz began to cheer for her sister.
"She's just too good!" Kim said pushing herself into a sitting position. Patty smiled and laughed.
"I never noticed because she's always with Kid but Patty's extremely strong. Indoor Lightning just can't beat her." Ox said. Tsugumi turned and sweat dropped seeing his bloodied and bruised face, even his glasses were cracked. "In terms of pure athletic ability she's up to Maka's level."
"Or quite possibly higher..." Harvard said. Tsugumi face palmed at that. Those two didn't know what they were talking about. If it was Maka of two years ago Patty might have had a chance. But even if she played dirty now it wasn't going to happen.
"Well I can't let a comment like that stand." Maka said appearing behind Ox and Harvard. The two boys flinched and moved out of her way when she smiled at them. Maka walked over to the ring Patty was in and grinned. "I'll be your opponent next."
Patty agreed without hesitation. She and Maka took their places at the marked starting places on the sparring mat. Naigus looked between the two girls, both having slipped into their fighting stances. "Begin!" Naigus said.
Patty stepped forward throwing a punch at Maka. Maka blocked and wrapped her arm around Patty's, locking them together. Patty's leg snapped out at Maka's knee, only to be block as Maka raised her shin. "Got you!" Maka said with a wink, her free arm slamming her fist into Patty's gut.
Patty hunched over and coughed, lowering her leg. She tried and failed to take a step back with Maka still keeping hold of her arm. Maka twisted her torso and used the captured arm to throw Patty over her shoulder. She batted away Patty's hand as the older girl attempted to grab hold of her pigtails during the fall. She slammed into the mat, the wind knocked out of her. "Damn it!" Patty said. She struggled to regain control of her breathing as she stared up at the ceiling.
"You go Maka!" Tsugumi said. This would show everyone Maka's place as the strongest girl was well earned. Maka took a step back from Patty, her grin widening. Patty flipped back onto her feet and charged at Maka with a kick to the side. Maka caught her leg and wrapped her arms around it. Maka's on foot snapped out into a high kick, hitting Patty in the chin.
Maka released Patty's leg, making the older girl tumble to the floor. "You still want to go?" Maka said as Patty glared up at her, rubbing her chin.
"I..." Patty said looking down, her eyes covered by her bangs. Maka dropped her hands and smiled. "Not on your life idiot!" Patty swept her foot at Maka's ankle. Maka flipped forwards, dodging the attempted sweep. She brought her heel down on Patty's head in a axe kick. Patty's head slammed into the mat and bounced off.
"Now that was just rude..." Maka said as she turned Patty's unmoving body over with her foot. The older girl had swirls in her eyes.
"Maka wins!" Naigus said raising the hand of Maka's starting side. "You've met your quota for the day. Feel free to go rest on the sidelines."
"No way," Maka said clenching her fist. "I'm on a roll today! Black*Star get over here!" Tsugumi sighed as a familiar head of blue hair pushed its way through the crowd. Maka must be over stimulated. Tsugumi had thought she had enough sense to tell where this would go.
"Bring it on!" Black*Star said pointing at Maka. "I'll be your opponent!" Naigus sighed as Maka and Black*Star took their positions.
"You're sure you want to do this?" Naigus said eyeing Maka. Maka grinned and slid into her fighting stance. Black*Star had a small smile and was standing there wide open. "Begin!"
"I've got you this time!" Maka said charging forward. She left off a combination of kicks and punches. Black*Star backed away, knocking some out of the way, sliding past others. "Got you," Maka slammed her heel onto Black*Star's toes, pinning him in place. Maka's left fist hit him in the cheek.
Black*Star's head snapped to the side. His eyes widened as he touched his mouth, he pulled his hand back to reveal blood on his fingertips. "You really have gotten better." Black*Star said smiling as he wiped the blood from his split lip.
"Of course I have!" Maka said her eyebrow twitching. "This time I'll win..." Black*Star didn't let her finish, his hand grabbing hold of Maka's hand and twisting his body so he could throw her over his shoulder. Maka squealed as she was sent flying through the air. She soared across the gym and slammed into another pair sparring.
"Oh boy, he's done it again..." Tsugumi said scratching her head as Naigus declared Black*Star the winner. Black*Star wandered over to Maka and picked her up. He laughingly apologised to the two who'd been hit by Maka. Tsugumi blinked as she realised the room had gotten quiet. Her eyes widened when she saw the rest of the girls in their class looking at Black*Star and blushing.
"Something wrong Tsugumi?" Black*Star said raising an eyebrow as he walked over. Maka was unconscious in his arms. Tsugumi blushed and waved her hands in front of her face.
"Nothing's wrong. We should sit down while Maka recovers." Tsugumi said. She got behind Black*Star and pushed him towards an emptier part of the gym. She was not going to be the one to tell Black*Star he was popular with the female population!
They ended up sitting by the gym wall, on the far side from the door. Tsugumi using her lap as a pillow for Maka's head. Black*Star plopped down beside her and stretched his arms. "You know, this is the first time Maka's ever managed to hit me." Black*Star said staring at his bloodied fingers.
"When you haven't let her?" Tsugumi said raising an eyebrow. Black*Star snorted but didn't say anything. "It must take a lot of work to keep so far ahead of her."
"Only sometimes," Black*Star said. He looked at Maka's face and grinned. "It's harder when she's mad." Tsugumi hummed in agreement and let the topic drop. They settled into silence, watching the rest of their class continue to spar. Tsugumi noticed the door being opened on the other side of the gym.
"Oh, Sid's here." Tsugumi said. Black*Star turned to look where she was pointing. Sid had approached Naigus and was whispering to her, covering his mouth with a hand. "What are they talking about?" Tsugumi wondered if it had anything to do with the preparations to deal with the Eibon imposter. With Black*Star's hearing he would be able to confirm it for her.
"Just something for us to look forward too," Black*Star said keeping his eyes glued on Sid. Tsugumi pouted at him but he didn't elaborate. Tsugumi hoped it wasn't anything too troublesome. Black*Star had mellowed out, so it couldn't be something too life threatening right?